Arthur Big Boy Crudup

Blues singer Arthur William “Big Boy” Crudup was born in Union Grove, Forest, Mississippi on August 24, 1905 into a family of travelling workers, and returned to Mississippi in 1926. He sang gospel music and blues and had blues tuition from a local blues singer known as Papa Harvey. He launched his career in Clarkestown, Mississippi, and as a member of the Harmonising Four, possibly a gospel group, visited Chicago in 1939. By the late 1940s, after a period of little success, he was signed to the Bluebird label.

He is best known as the composer of songs which later became rock and roll classics, including “That’s all right mama”. His recording career spanned several decades but he also worked as a labourer and was frequently in dispute over his royalties.

Arthur Crudup died in Nassawadox, Virginia on or around March 28, 1974 from a heart attack and diabetes.

Image: Blues 145

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